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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




WHISKEY HILL

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WHISKEY HILL. Whiskey Hill was a steep and winding hill at the southern end of Dubuque. The road over it ran from the western end of Southern Avenue to Grandview Avenue which it intercepted west of Rockdale Road. (1) The intersection of Grandview and the Whiskey Hill road was clearly marked. On the lawn of the Kavanaugh estate stood a life-sized statue of a horse. (2)

The history of Whiskey Hill and its road includes being part of the MILITARY ROAD that stretched from Dubuque to Iowa City. (3) At first nothing more than a natural trail, it began to take on importance with the growth of Rockdale and communities further west. The steepness of the grade was always a problem. Farmers using smooth shod horses had to use double teams to get their wagons to the top. (4) Its importance began to slip with the development of Rockdale Road.

Stories exist as to how it was named. One story suggests a farmer's barrel of whiskey fell off his wagon at the top of the hill and rolled all the way down the hill. A second story stated that a farmer found that the plug in his whiskey barrel had worked loose thus spilling whiskey all the way up the hill. (5) It has even been suggested that those driving wagons up the hill often needed to stop to rest their animals. At such a time, a swig of whiskey might be taken. (6)

Despite its mention over the years, the name Whiskey Hill has never been found on a map or street sign. (7)

In 1903 great interest was shown for cutting down the grade of the hill. (8) Farmers were expecting the full support of the local merchants. In 1928 as paving was being completed on the Military Road from the viaduct at Rockdale to Key West, a detour was constructed over the Whiskey Hill Road. (9) In 1933, however, this route was still not paved. (10)

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Source:

1. "How Did Whiskey Hill Get Its Name? Inquiring Reporter Tries to Find Out; Here are His Numerous Conjectures," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, February 26, 1933. p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4v1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Or4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5557,2700348&dq=whiskey+hill+dubuque&hl=en

2. "Remember Way Back When---?" Telegraph Herald, April 25, 1936, p. 25. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5d5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-6kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3184,3217738&dq=whiskey+hill+dubuque&hl=en

3. Ibid.

4. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Sunday Herald, December 8, 1897, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XStBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q6gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1377,7784801&dq=whiskey+hill+dubuque&hl=en

5. Kruse, Len, "Two Theories of Whiskey Hill," My Old Dubuque. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 124-125.

6. "How Did Whiskey Hill Get Its Name?..."

7. Kruse, Len. p. 125

8. "To Cut Down Hill," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, January 15, 1903, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G39iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O3cNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3102,4295602&dq=whiskey+hill+dubuque&hl=en

9. "To Open Military Road Saturday," Telegraph Herald, August 22, 1928, p. 13. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DDFkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N70MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4427,3668510&dq=whiskey+hill+dubuque&hl=en

10. "How Did Whiskey Hill Get Its Name?..."